A seemingly innocuous social media action by Collingwood Magpies superstar Nick Daicos has ignited widespread speculation within the Australian Football League (AFL) community. The young star’s decision to follow the official Instagram account of the future Tasmania Devils franchise has sent rumors into overdrive regarding a potential future move.
This incident revives a previously established narrative. Last year, Daicos commented that he would ‘never rule out’ a potential transfer to the Tasmanian team. His coach, Craig McRae, responded to those remarks with a humorous quip, stating that any such move would have to be a ‘double deal’ implying he would follow his star player.
The speculation is particularly intriguing given the timeline. Daicos is currently contracted with Collingwood until the end of the 2029 season. The Tasmania Devils are scheduled to make their AFL debut in 2028. To facilitate their competitive entry, the new franchise will be granted a significant financial advantage: a massive $5 million allowance outside the standard salary cap to be utilized across their first two seasons, making high-profile acquisitions a distinct possibility.
In a separate but related development, the Tasmania Football Club has taken a concrete step toward its inaugural season by announcing its first official match. The Devils will host Coburg at North Hobart Oval on March 21, marking the return of VFL football to the state for the first time since 2008. Aaron Pidgeon, the club’s head of football, emphasized the historic nature of the event and confirmed the team’s plan to play games across the entire state throughout the VFL and VFLW seasons. The full fixture is set to be released within the next two weeks.
The foundation for the Devils’ entry was solidified late last year with the controversial approval of a new $1.13 billion stadium at Hobart’s Macquarie Point. The project, which passed Tasmania’s legislative council after gaining support from key independents, will feature a 23,000-seat arena destined to become the home of the Tasmania Devils upon their league entrance in 2028. The stadium proposal had faced persistent opposition, primarily focused on its colossal cost, which critics estimated could equate to a burden of approximately $1,380 for every Tasmanian resident.